American Idol’s Devin Velez Comes Out As Gay on Instagram (PHOTOS)

Do you think American Idol 12 alum, Devin Velez, is trying to tell us something in his latest series of instagram photos taken in Nashville? Basically, he comes out as gay and introduces his boyfriend, Trevin Stepheson, on instagram. I say good on him. They look like a cute couple.

Who is this fellow, hiding his face? His name is Trevin Stephenson, but his instagram is private. Devin captioned the photo: “@nyctrev chillin with the peeps! :) #booyah #nashville Kree’s house. :)”

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Funny thing is, a fan tweeted Lazaro asking if he was gay and Lazaro insisted he is not. So he really is the despicable liar Jimmy Iovine said he is (LOL).

MichaelG (MikhailXO)

Shocked. Not.

Besides being a rather unappealing, gay male was criteria for top 10 status this past season….right?

MichaelG (MikhailXO)

And Burnell still has time to come out. He’s young yet…

MichaelG (MikhailXO)

Was the “feeling” like being hit with a ton of bricks?

LeahKittyS

Nah, not Burnell. He really had a thing for Amber until she got pregnant with some other guy’s baby. I just have a way of knowing these things.

HermeticallySealed

So . . . because one thinks someone is gay, they must be? Even if he is gay, it’s not for anyone else to make that choice to come out for him. Not fans, not critics. End of story.

Larc

What else is new? ;)

HermeticallySealed

Yeah, mark me as one of those who thought this was already known. That said, they look happy so good for them.

LeahKittyS

He had a boyfriend named Ronnie Barcena, a personal trainer in Florida. Ronnie has pictures of them together on his Facebook. They’ve since broken up but I’ve heard friends of Lazaro (not just fans, actual friends) comment on the relationship. So it’s not like the Internet doesn’t know.

HermeticallySealed

Unless he’s going around courting women for relationships, it still is no-one’s business. I know people seem to think something like that is their right to know, but it isn’t.

Listening

To be truthful he’s the only one I wasn’t quite sure about but i’m pretty sure he’s not gay.

LeahKittyS

Here’s what I find funny. 2009: One AI contestant is suspected of being gay. The press makes a huge deal about it, and when he officially comes out, they eat it up and he’s all over the place. 2013: Several male finalists are suspected of being gay. The press doesn’t care at all, and when one comes out, they don’t notice. Is this another sign of Idol’s popularity decline, or does it mean that a famous or semi-famous person coming out is no longer a big deal?

Mel432

Paul’s pic w/boyfriend was circulated around the net when he was in top 10. Of course, that was no surprise, along with Devin and others. Someone told me (before voting started) at least three boys were gay in the top 10.

Volveras

No surprise here. obvious, actually. Just like that kid who studders. No biggie.

Montavilla

First and foremost: Good for Devin. I kind of got it before, but it’s no big thing. He was still my favorite guy this season.

Now, I don’t really think the whole “possibly gay” Top Ten was the producer’s fault, since they did put through 10 guys to the public vote and these were the ones we chose. But, even if they had been all gay, that would have meant the first gay idol, right? That would have been pretty cool.

Mel432

The press was already writing about Adam before they started talking about him being gay. That may be the difference between then and now. What do you mean “he’s all over the place”.

jobeob987

This doesn’t exactly come as a shocker, lol. Devin and Trevin actually gets my attention more. Wow, wonder if that’s ever confusing for them and those around them.

LeahKittyS

I meant he was all over magazine covers and celebrity news shows the year he came out.

Montavilla

I think it means that it’s no big deal. Oh, there are still people who fight against any expression of sexuality that isn’t rigidly heterosexual and “family-oriented,” but it seems like people have finally figured out that it’s no big deal, and the press has caught up with them.

And I think Idol has a lot to do with that. There have been any number of gay contestants on the show through the years, and while it was rarely as obvious as Adam — or Danny Noriega from Season Seven — it was there. And, little by little, the families that watched the show began to realize what families with gay members knew for decades: that love is love, and there’s no reason to be scared of it.

Anny_nanny

Congratulations guys, they are a cute couple.

abbysee

Devin was not a front-runner, had no buzz, except when he and Nicki had that little tiff. So truly don’t get your comparison at all. Adam had buzz from day one that had nothing to do with being gay, but being really talented.

I thought Devin mentioned a boyfriend on Twitter before the tour started….

LeahKittyS

That was a different boyfriend. They broke up just before the finale. Devin’s Twitter was full of sad tweets that week. And you have a point about Adam.

Mel432

I don’t think he was that much “all over the place”, i.e., magazine covers and celebrity news shows when he came out. However, when he was promoting his album, every interviewer did brig it up. Funny, when you say when he came out, because as Adam says, he has always been out.

Mel432

Exactly my point.

taptap

Being gay appears to be the only thing Adam has in common with the S12 guys. Adam has more talent and charisma in his little finger than all of them together have, and this is the difference that matters, not their sexual orientation. Ofc I’m pretty sure the producers wanted the guys to go nowhere this last season. I guess one could argue that they figured if the lack of talent didn’t do the trick, the gayness might, considering that their audience may have a bigger problem with the gayness than the blandness.

No Thanks

Adam had a shot at winning. Plus he was one of the best singers/performers the show ever had. S12 guys were….NOT.

sweetmm

I remembered someone leaked that all the boys in last season were gay except for one; was that just a rumour?

No Thanks

It was pretty obvious.

lkingcorn

Good for Devin coming out. He’s ahead of the game at the start. As for Lazaro, I don’t think this site is any place to be outing anyone. If other members of S12 want to come out its up to them. Because you think someone gay doesn’t make it so.

girlygirl

Good for Devin. They are a cute couple.

girlygirl

A few ex-Idols have come out over the past few years. So it’s not really a big deal anymore. Then add in the fact that Adam had way more buzz about him then any of the S12 guys do…

Liteasy

Not in my book!

Incipit

LeahKittyS – Nothing to do with Idol, or people ignoring it, IMO, unless every other artist who comes out has a lot of people gasping and clutching their pearls, and only Idol has the folks saying “And your point is?”

It’s just not as big a deal any more – The press-made fuss from post Idol 2009 had other components, but I don’t know that it would fly today. Of course, none of these guys was in a position to win, AL was.

Still, I recall DC’s interview in 2008 with NewNowNext, as the first Idol winner to interview with an LGBT Publication, when he expressed the hope that this would become a rights issue struggle the country could look back on.

Are we supposed to be shocked? Hes not the only finalist from last season that had people’s gaydar dinging constantly. So who else is going to reveal the truth next. Maybe in S13 it will be ok to be open from the start. It would be nice if an openly gay contestant won one of these shows and became a huge star. (Adam was still a don’t ask /dont tell – and youd be surprised at how some people out there have no gaydar)

Ari

And also there are straight men who are more effeminate and gay men who are much more masculine/butch…So as much as people think they can tell (esp non-gay people think they can tell), they are often wrong. I hope we’re getting to the day soon when announcements are no longer necessary or artists no longer fear that if theyre out from the beginning of their careers, they will stand less of a chance of being a mainstream star or will be pigeonholed as the gay singer. At least these days, celebrities no longer get on the cover of People Magazine and often reveal it matter of factly. I havent read 50 shades but I assume the lead is 100% hetero and it was nice to see how fans were pushing for Matt Bomer. It would have been great to see him get the role and the movie be a hit and finally dispel the Hollywood excuse that gay men arent believable in romantic leading roles because the audience of straight women won’t/cant fantasize about them. To think, Lance Bass went from the cover of People to a matter of fact engagement reveal on Twitter. Im sure he could never have imagined that. It would be nice if one of these mega popular boybands would have an openly gay member and he would be as adored by the girls as everyone else.

Ari

Some people are bi too…but again why are people so fascinated. We need to get to a stage where it doesnt matter and no one flinches if you say you have a boyfriend vs a girlfriend and you dont have to explain anything if your same sex partners photo is in your office and you dont have to change pronouns when you walk in on Monday morning

Ari

stutter

Ari

Its an issue until openly gay singers and actors can be that way from the start of their careers and still achieve mainstream success. Many of the big stars came out after they made their money or became famous. Actors especially are often harmed cuz Hollywood doesnt think straight women will buy them as romantic leading men…So you often have straight actors playing gay roles but not the opposite. And many singers or actors want to practice their crafts and be judged on their work – not be t he gay singer or the gay movie star. Discrimination and prejudice is still real. Not only gay marriage, but in most states in this country you can be fired for being gay or even suspected of being gay. There is no law barring that

Ari

I wouldnt give Idol any credit. Their contestants havent been officially out. Being gay or lesbian has NEVER been talked about on the show. Even S1 had gay contestants. Unlike The Voice which has had various openly gay contestants, some of whom talked about it and others like Michelle did not. TV has done a lot to move gay rights forward but I wouldnt count Idol as part of that.

Ari

There was a gay contestant in S1

Ari

Actually he didnt “come out” from what the posts above show. The writer of this post said he came out. He just posted some photos and was being honest about his relationship. He hasnt given an interview saying Im gay!!! Like many folks these days, he is just living his life and its an afterthought

Mel432

Curious what idols have come out over the past few years.

Mel432

And the press is still writing that Adam is one of the best vocalists to ever come out of Idol, w/o even bringing up him being gay.

Wally.

I thought he and Jessica were still dating. It was only couple months ago I saw a photo of them still together??

shell29

Multiple gay contestants in S1.

Montavilla

Are you thinking of DeAndre Brackensick?

taptap

I’m curious which of these guys you think is more talented and charismatic than Adam.

Fans asked Lazaro a while ago is he was gay on twitter and he said no. lol

fuzzywuzzy

Lazaro has denied being gay on twitter when asked directly by fans.

fuzzywuzzy

Yes, I thought that Devin had disclosed this much earlier in a pretty matter of fact way.

milwlovesadam

Ummm, yeah, not exactly popping popcorn over this. This seems more like sharing his life than actually coming out. Pretty sure he’s been out a long time, just like Adam was before Idol in his real life.

Weren’t pretty much most of the guys gay last season? Honestly. Who cares anymore? I’m much more interested in talent than sexuality.

It’s funny how many people don’t have any gaydar.

fuzzywuzzy

I followed that twitter exchange and it was more than one fan. I was surprised by anyone being that direct, and didn’t think that it was appropriate at all.

HKfan

Adam had been living his life as an out gay man for more than 8 years before he auditioned for Idol, there were photos all over the internet of him and his boyfriend kissing, the producers knew, the other contestants knew, and many of his fans knew. I don’t think he was trying to hide it, he was just being himself…….just because he didn’t actually stand up there and say ‘I;m gay’ to the audience…….But why should he, we don’t expect all the straight contestants to get up there and pronounce they’re straight, so why do we expect it for gay contestants. Its a singing/talent show…sexuality shouldn’t come into it.

Kathleen Moore

Hmm. I can’t remember Finchie coming out.

HKfan

But again, why should it……why do we expect contestants to announce if they’re gay, and not announce if they’re straight., it doesn’t make any difference to their talent. I just don’t get it it….. Why should Ada or Devin got up and said ‘hi, my name is …. and I a, gay….would we have expected Kelly or Carrie to stand up and say, hi my name is…and I am straight…, Maybe Idol is doing it the right way, treating everyone the same, instead of focusing on their sexuality, and not making an issue of it..

Yet, he waited until the tour was over before he introduced his boyfriend to his fans. I don’t think that was a coincidence. If he were just “sharing his life” he would have done it before, I think.

I’m certainly not surprised, or even care that much. But as I knew it would, I got a ton of hits on this post. That’s why it’s here.

Mel432

I just found this out recently, that on the AI form, there is a section that asks is there anything else we should know about you. Adam wrote on the form that he is gay.

Mel432

Yep, people just like to talk about it. Shocked or not. Can you imagine if someone like Scotty came out gay? LOL

MissMyEm

I always knew he was gay same as I knew many others were. Coming out is not a big deal anymore.

MissMyEm

So did Clay when he was on Idol, but most people had the feeling he was anyway.

fuzzywuzzy

Yes, I think that most people thought that Clay was gay (although a lot of his fans didn’t), but he only directly denied it once in an interview with Rollingstone magazine. The rest of the time, he avoided the issue and sent mixed messages to his fans, but didn’t directly deny it.

I remember that joke! I LOLed at the time because I knew that both of them were gay. It was sort of a cue that everyone backstage knew it, too.

H.A.

Have you seen Jim Verraros lately? That guy turned out be really good looking.

Larc

I think you can add David Hernandez (S7 #12) to that list. When it came out that he had been a stripper at a gay club, he said he wasn’t gay. But he later admitted it.

Incipit

And wasn’t there a picture tweeted by Danny Noriega (also S7) in drag just recently, as Adore Delano? I thought he really made an attractive-looking woman – and great job on the make-up. IMO.

LeahKittyS

I didn’t know about David coming out, though I knew about the stripper thing. So thanks. And Danny was only a semifinalist; I’m talking about Top 10/12/13 finalists.

Kirsten

I believe that Vanessa Olivarez is out as well (she was a finalist in Season 2 – the one who was told by the producers to call Ryan a monkey and she was promptly eliminated – the producers are not your friend).

shell29

Isn’t Ejay Day gay as well?

LeahKittyS

If he is I never heard about it.

Joe G.

Idol actually did have an openly gay contestant this year, for the first time ever I think. Remember JDA?

As a side note, it was funny hearing Devin trying to flirt with Nicki when he obviously only liked her as a friend.

Mel432

Not as big a deal as five years ago, but still a medium deal. Otherwise, all actors, performers, TV personalities, politicians, etc. would be out.

taptap

I’m not shocked that everyone doesn’t like Adam. What celeb will be liked by everyone? I just said he was more talented and charismatic than the top guys on AI’s last season, and Liteasy disagreed, which is perfectly fine. I’m just curious who, among those AI12 guys, she perceives as more talented and charismatic. None of them are getting press or big opportunities, so I’m just curious. I’d definitely look up some of their AI performances to compare them – out of curiosity.

Yeah. We’re talking about the Season 12 guys, here. A group that was hand-picked by the producers to be the least-likely to wow anyone with their vocals or charisma lest they ruin their plans for a female winner.

No one should expect them to announce it. But, they also should not have to hide it. Here’s the thing. We straight people have all the advantage. We don’t have to announce we are straight because the truth is, even in this day, everyone is assumed straight until proven otherwise. And it’s not politically correct to let the gaydar do the figuring. Really, I think the whole, “Why should they announce they are gay” is kind of a disservice .We simply aren’t there yet, so the more people with any sort of celebrity who come out, the better for all of us.. straight or gay.

Karen C

Is this another sign of Idol’s popularity decline, or does it mean that a famous or semi-famous person coming out is no longer a big deal?

I think this has more to do with the popularity of the individual contestant than either the show, if there was a more popular contestant, there would be more interest. This doesn’t necessarily have to do with the popularity of the show, because there were contestants that were gay in earlier seasons that later came out, and the press barely covered it. Also, when Clay Aiken did come out, it was covered in the press, even years later. I think the difference is that both Adam and Clay Aiken were very popular where others were not.

WIth the declining popularity of the show, it does become less likely that someone would be as popular as some in eariler seasons.

But, like I said in another comment…he waited until the tour was over to introduce us, or even mention, his boyfriend. I don’t think it’s a coincidence.

From what I understand, Devin IS out to his friends and family, but here, I think, he was “coming out” as a gay man to his fans, letting them a little further into his private life. Not a big deal, but still a revelation.

LeahKittyS

When did Devin ever flirt with Nicki? You must be thinking of Charlie Askew or Elijah Liu.

suenigma

Hopefully this isn’t too off-topic, but people were talking about RJ Helton and homosexuality, so I think it’s okay to post. This is a truly beautiful and moving performance by someone I was not overly impressed with in Season One. RJ has come a very long way…

I agree that they shouldn’t have to announce it, but on Idol, there is definitely a sense that they have to hide it, which is probably why Devin only started posting pictures of his boyfriend after the tour. Or why Adam Lambert waited to officially “come out” to the public in a Rolling Stone interview after the contest was over (even though he says he was “always out”). Or why we never get to see the “significant other” of a gay contestant in the audience in Idol, whereas we constantly see or hear about the significant others of all the straight contestants. Idol tries to avoid the issue of sexuality because they’re too worried about offending their more conservative viewers, not because they’re progressive.

Jordana33

Some of my openly gay male friends flirt with females all the time. I don’t find it that strange, LOL.

I was not suprised. But i was hoping we wasn’t gay cause he and Angie look good together basing it on their IG photos together.

Joe G.

Um no. I’m thinking of Devin. At least once in the post performance interview with Ryan he said that she was sexy or he would show her a good time or something silly like that. I remember it feeling terribly forced and awkward.

Bluebeat

Oh…wow..I did not see that coming *sarcasm* So when’s Paul Jolley’s turn? I wonder if Lazaro will come out as well? Definitely 95% sure only Burnell & Curtis are the only ones who are straight.

Bluebeat

He was probably not sure that’s all.

Bluebeat

Yup, so that they could get a Girl to win xD

Jaejae1

Wentworth coming out caused me much drama. I was devastated! He’s soooo hot! LOL! Oh well….he is what he is…

LeahKittyS

Curtis I doubt. Actually, I think he’s so caught up in his faith that he’s not thinking about romance or sex with anyone.

Q_3

It depends how one defines “openly gay”. The first openly gay contestant on Idol was in the first season — Jim Verraros in 2002. He was living as an openly gay man prior to being on Idol. Idol asked him to remove all references to being gay from his Facebook page before the season began. This became a bit of an issue within the gay community.

Joe G.

There was no Facebook in 2002.

gem2477

Now when is it time for Lazaro and Paul to come out?? (Curtis basically is out now) LOL

gem2477

pretty much. they wanted a girl to win, remember? LOL

gem2477

They way we found out about Adam was different. A picture was leaked of him kissing a man. Devin just basically posted pics of his bf. Devin’s is a little less scandalous.

gem2477

I thought Vanessa Oliveraz came out as a lesbian? Am I right?

gem2477

That one book Elimination Night claims he is….but I’ll take that with a grain of salt.

gem2477

I heard from someone who knows him that he is gay.

Ronnie D

Way too much mascara. lol

LeahKittyS

I never heard anything about Vanessa. I think you’re thinking of Frenchie Davis, who did come out last year. But I didn’t count her because I’m only thinking about Top 10/12/13 finalists.

LeahKittyS

I think that character was a combination of Scotty McCreery and Clay Aiken, who are both from North Carolina and both had squeaky-clean images.

ArielVanessa

Scotty is definitely straight plus he has a girlfriend. I think he is one of the last idols who would be gay.